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Mitchell Headed to 1st Conference Finals 🔥
Credit: WWE.com

WWE Raw Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from August 1

Erik BeastonAug 2, 2016

Seth Rollins evaded a Helluva Kick and planted Sami Zayn with a Pedigree, securing both a high-profile victory in the Raw main event and status as the biggest winner of the August 1 broadcast.

The Architect not only reminded fans of why he is one of the best and most accomplished in-ring stars in the industry, but he also carried the majority of an in-ring promo designed to put heat on his upcoming WWE Universal Championship match against Finn Balor at SummerSlam.

As the most coveted Superstar of the draft, Rollins will be relied upon to carry the Raw brand as its centerpiece. On Monday night, he did just that, delivering performances both on the mic and in the ring that generated interest in his upcoming title match while simultaneously providing fans with a superb in-ring product.

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With SummerSlam just weeks away on August 21, Rollins' contributions to Raw will become more important than ever as WWE Creative continues to build Balor into a credible main event star for those fans unfamiliar with his work in NXT.

A consummate heel and MVP candidate for Vince McMahon's company, Rollins is every bit the performer he has been touted as by fans and a deserving No. 1 on the most visible brand in all of WWE.

The self-proclaimed "Man" was not the only big-time winner to emerge from the pack Monday night—nor was the show devoid of losers.

Winner: Roman Reigns

While a feud with United States champion Rusev may feel like a demotion for Roman Reigns, it is exactly what the former three-time WWE champion needs at this point.

Crowds hate the idea of supporting him as the headline babyface, his one-dimensional character inspiring anything but delight. But for all the boos that greeted him as he made his arrival to the squared circle on Raw, they were significantly subdued compared to those that accompanied his entrances during his time at the top of the card.

Pushed too hard from the moment he split from The Shield, perhaps Reigns will benefit from taking a step back and evolving more organically. If that means battling The Bulgarian Brute over a secondary title or maybe even feuding with someone like Kevin Owens or Chris Jericho in the midcard for a bit, so be it.

Reigns has the rare opportunity to take a page from Rollins' book by rebuilding, redesigning and reclaiming his mantle. It will benefit him in the long run and make his character that much easier for fans to digest.

Losers: Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows

No brutal, post-match beatdown will make up for the fact that The Club was defeated by The New Day following a Big E roll-up one minute, 21 seconds into a match.

There will be some arguing that Gallows and Anderson got their heat back and that all is well with the devious duo, that they are somehow still credible enough contenders to Big E, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston's titles, especially with WWE's announcement that Big E was injured during the post-match assault.

The fact of the matter is that, despite what WWE Creative tries to convince fans of on a seemingly weekly basis, wins and losses do matter. More importantly, how those wins and losses are attained matters. Gallows and Anderson looked like goofs—fluke contenders who could not make it through a two-minute sprint with the top tag team in the land—and no beatdown will change that perception.

Without AJ Styles by their side, the two are in danger of being exposed as a team in need of a leader rather than a destructive force poised to achieve championship dominance.

Winners: Charlotte and Sasha Banks

For the first time in what feels like an eternity, it was not Stephanie or Shane McMahon who kicked off Raw. John Cena and Reigns were nowhere to be found. Rollins? Nope. Instead, the opening promo segment of the biggest and most recognizable wrestling show in the land was devoted to Sasha Banks and Charlotte, who continue to build their feud following The Boss' Women's Championship victory a week ago.

The mic work between the two was a bit shaky, and there was a noticeable nervousness in both performers. But they still emerged as major winners from the August 1 episode because they basked in a spotlight not typically reserved for them.

Banks and Charlotte, not to mention the other talented women on the WWE roster, will never be completely comfortable in that position unless they are booked in it more frequently. The only way for them to lose the deer-in-headlights look is to have the opportunity to stand in front of 10,000 screaming fans and carry an entire promo segment on their backs.

The arrival of Enzo Amore and Jericho may have set up a Mixed Tag Team match, but it was the wrong move. Banks and Charlotte deserved the opportunity to finish that segment without the involvement of men, proving they could handle the spotlight and situation on their own.

Even with the presence of those two captivating performers, the champion and No. 1 contender shined, taking up nearly 30 minutes of the show as they continued to establish themselves as cornerstones of Raw.

Mitchell Headed to 1st Conference Finals 🔥

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